A CLASSIC he didn't see... how?! First time watching The Neverending Story movie reaction

Badd Medicine here and its Neverending Story reaction time
Mason Quinn gets his first watch of this classic story!
On his way to school, Bastian (Barret Oliver) ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called "The Neverending Story," Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.
The Neverending Story movie reaction skip to:
0:00 - The Neverending Story movie reaction intro
2:07 - The Neverending Story movie reaction
40:40 - The Neverending Story movie review
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[@BaddMedicine]

What a classic! Do you still rewatch this? What is your favorite moment? What did we miss? Early Drops & Full Reactions on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baddmedicine Backup channel Subscribe here kzbin.info/door/1CLUwA27dz-94o3FR0o3xg

[@seanwilliams7716]

React to Who Framed Roger Rabbit movie next

[@mclovin7375]

The movie is made from the novel "the neverending story", from the german author Michael Ende. He also wrote "Momo", also a wonderful read. Here is a documentary about the author and his views on our corrupt monetary system. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHabmZhtoLGeiK8

[@seanwilliams7716]

React to Masters Of The Universe movie

[@kelaarin]

Ladyhawke.

[@khaleesimandy74]

I'm loving watching this and The Oak. I can see the love he has for the memories of watching this. I'm the same. I got it on DVD. Don't know if you guys have ever watched Billy Jack movies, but you should. You don't have to do a reaction to them. But I know you guys would love them.

[@crazysingergirl5777]

The scene with Artax was devastating as a child. However, that is not the scene that broke me. Even as a child, the scene with the rock biter near the end broke me. The speech about his “big, strong hands” that weren’t enough to save the people he loved, and how he had just given up and was waiting for the Nothing to take him too, haunted me for years. It still makes me choke up.

[@donaldcasteel6179]

this right here. whenever my depression starts hitting hard this scene is pretty much exactly how i feel. i've even used the same words trying to talk about it.

[@Deathbird_Mitch]

Yes. That scene killed/ kills me.

[@tree6787]

Ditto ❤️

[@thedarklord4556]

Me too, like in the 80ies and still today it's gets me tears

[@02michellemybell02]

The horse scene the tragedy still gets me .😢❤

[@melaniecrouch2354]

Fortunately the two horses who played Artax didn't die during filming and neither were hurt. That was a rumour that started when they learned their were two horses used during production, but they actually had two near identical horses and swapped them around to reduce any stress during filming.

[@beachie]

Also, they actually gave one of the horses to Noah Hathaway at the end of filming. I don't think he ended up taking it home with him, but it's still a charming detail from the movie.

[@msdarby515]

​@@beachie and he gave it to his riding double from the movie who lived in Germany. He said he received an email about 10 years before the interview (2019, I think) letting him know that the horse had passed.

[@Thundarr100]

That’s better than what happened to the tiger in Beastmaster. The dye that was used to try to make the tiger look like a black panther was actually toxic to cats. A couple of months after filming the movie, the tiger died of complications caused by a reaction to the black dye. This is why in all of the following sequels and the TV series the tiger being used in the show was always left looking natural.

[@dorothyvanbrocklin2424]

​@@msdarby515 That quote from Noah's interview how referring to how hurt he got doing a lot of the stunts and one stunt that recked his spine and cracked vertebra "they treated the horses better than me [him]" got me

[@msdarby515]

@@dorothyvanbrocklin2424 I know! And he had a double. It made me wonder what the heck they were having him do???

[@Simplenotion]

PLEASE, everyone. Read the book! The book gets much more interesting and deep once Bastian gets to make up the new Fantasia (which is different than the movie portrays it). SPOILER his darker, more vain and selfish characteristics begin to take over - with every wish he makes, he also forgets part of the real world. He trusts the wrong people, is drunk on power and basically becomes Fantasias dictator. He even tries to kill Arteyu whom he had become friends with, when the latter tries to stop him. In the end he has no memories of home - which he would need to return - and no friends left. He has even forgotten his name and didn't finish many stories he began building in Fantasia- but Arteyu who hasn't given up on him, still knows his name and promises to finish all his stories for him. He helps Bastian - who gives up Auryn- return home through the fountain of the water of life. Bastian takes a little bit of the fountains water with him to give to his dad. When he makes it home, his father (who previously had been acting detached from him, probably depressed and overwhelmed by his wife's death) has been worried sick and he and Bastian finally talk and reconcile. Bastian is sorry that he didn't manage to bring the water with him but his dad through tears tells him he did manage - My favorite part. Bastian also goes back to the book store to apologize because the neverending story disappeared and he can't return it. Coriander, the owner says he has never owned such a book and that he himself has been to Fantasia as well...and that Bastian will help someone else find the way to Fantasia in due time. The book has so much meaningful commentary on life/death, self image and confidence, friendship, growing up, the power of dreams and fantasy, happiness and also politics. It is truly worth a read.

[@darrenbent7601]

And, not to forget that things in novel were not portrayed well on screen. The old blue skinned man who gave Atreyu the medallion in the movie was a Zebra Centaur, who had to go to his village, not the other way around, with Atreyu already being at the Ivory Tower. The meeting between Atreu and Falcor had something to do with a creature made up of a swarm of creatures that could change its form...etc. And every chapter was beautifully headed with an ornate page, one for every letter of the alphabet, with them being redesigned from the German original. Yes, while it has been quite a few years since I read the wonderful novel, it still holds a place in my heart, compared to the movies. The only think I love from the movies is the Limahl theme song, which I could listen too on loop.

[@carerforever2118]

All that you said was in the book was in the 2nd movie.

[@Simplenotion]

@@carerforever2118 yeah I know but a lot of people never watch that plus the book is much more detailed of course, it's just a different medium.

[@darrenbent7601]

@@carerforever2118 I've seen all of the movies, the TV series and cartoons, and not all of the things and events from the 2nd half of the book are in the movie, nor are they in any of the other media, or as described in the text. There were no Dream Mines, no ever changing house, the dragon was not as described in the books, or the clown butterflies. If you've read the book, you will know what I am talking about.

[@ZatchMoonshadow]

@@carerforever2118 Which was terrible! So Skip the second movie and just read the book.

[@Pretzils1031]

This, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and The Princess Bride Along with most of Tim Burton's films are all Movies that only Appreciate with time. A phenomenal kids movie is a movie that adults love as much as children. These movies manage to capture a sense of wonder so beautifully, that they keep inspiring new generations to explore their imaginations. As a member of Gen Z, it makes me sad that we'll never have movies like this made ever again, but these movies will always be there to Entertain, terrify, Mystify and inspire.

[@crystalbaragar7044]

I hope they watch the dark crystal it's so good

[@Dream_Weapon]

I find all of them absolutely awful watching experiences

[@bethcushway458]

Don't forget Return To Oz

[@masansr]

I believe they all have seen The Princess Bride. Even then, I'd love a re-reaction of some of the best movies of all time, because it's quite likely they've seen it YEARS ago.

[@planetwatch0000]

And then there are the movies of today. Wow. Depressing, isn't it? At least we have these timeless classics to revisit.

[@TheRevRen27]

Watching Oak grinning from ear to ear during the movie made my heart smile SO MUCH 🥹💛

[@praumbaldwin2457]

Yes, me too. ❤️

[@psychokitty71]

That part about Bastian following along with Atreyu while two of you follows along with Bastian, the Oak follows the other two in the adventure and then we, watching the video follows along with all three of you. In that respect, it really is the "Neverending Story". Also, that whole aspect of he true purpose of Atreyu's quest was just to bring Bastian along on his adventures is exactly why Atreyu was sent on his quest without weapons or much of anything else. It's the only adventure/quest movie that I can think of that actually gives an explanation for that.

[@John_the_Paul]

And here I am, watching what you’ve written

[@bethcushway458]

The early/mid eighties was a renaissance for fantasy films. It was so great. We had this, Willow, The Dark Crystal, Return To Oz, Labyrinth, The Princess Bride and then some great TV series in the UK too. An amazing time to grow up.

[@jenniferbelmoudden344]

Return to Oz!! Love this movie. The Wheelers terrified me as a kid. So many people don’t know about this movie, so glad to see you mention it!

[@shannansmith2188]

THIS!!!

[@texashookem22]

Saw this in theaters as a kid when it came out, still with me decades later. Little piece of magic in this flick, and the storytelling is absolutely phenomenal!

[@johnbernhardtsen3008]

I really teared at the Artax scene, as a lil 10 yr old kid back then at the cinema! I remember about 100 kids outside the cinema that evening back in 1984!

[@sharpgirl72]

We must be a similar age. Saw it in the theater as a youngster too

[@charlesandrebecerra]

I LOVE how The Oak is fully focused on the movie and the other guys are reacting to it like usual but midway are getting invested and start getting quiet. Ah the power of this story....it's never ending :)

[@ct6852]

Indeed. 😎

[@jxchamb]

My 8th grade art teacher let us watch this at least twice. I love this movie. The other movie she played for us was Legend. Best teacher ever.

[@iny0urdreams242]

OMG Legend! One of my favorites as a kid. Hope they watch it one day!

[@Uta_Chandra.H]

I used to watch Neverending story a dozen times as kid!

[@justthej]

Legend!!! Yes. Tim Curry is the 🐐.

[@kimmycook2698]

I saw Legend at least 7 times at the theater...Tim Curry is a legend.

[@Aimes604]

Legend is so good! I’ve seen it so many times. One of the classic 80s movies

[@ct6852]

"Yeaahh!" walked so "now THIS is pod racing!" could run.

[@mistyb1183]

18:16 this part still gets to me. after all these years,it teaches every young child about death it’s so sad 😢

[@cosesu8929]

Now imagine if he talked in the movie like he did in the book

[@eveschwarz467]

The neverending story is part of my childhood, the book was written by Micheal Ende, a german writer. He wrote also other famous stories like Momo and Jim Knopf and Luke the engine driver. I think every child in Germany is growing up with the books, films...

[@puzzicat6489]

Yes ☺ True. And Räuber Hotzenplotz 😅

[@jastify79]

Und Ronja Räubertochter. 😊

[@puzzicat6489]

@@jastify79 Oh yes ☺One of my first "Weihnachtsmärchen" in "Kindergarten" 😅 Love it ☺

[@Simplenotion]

@@jastify79 no, that is Astrid Lindgren...not Ende

[@jastify79]

@@Simplenotion I was just mentioning a children's book I loved when I was little.

[@tomfoster3421]

That was when, as a kid, you realized that NO ONE was safe in a movie. Poor Artax. The Gmork was insanely terrifying as a kid, it was kind of like the boogeyman amplified.

[@XYZ-ll1kw]

FYI in the book, Artax's death is even more horrifying. The horse can actually talk and describes it immense depression and sadness. When Atreyu says that he doesn't feel it, the horse explains that the Auryn is protecting him from the swamp's effect. When Atreyu wants to save the Artax by putting Auryn around it, the horse refuses because of Atreyu's important quest. That horse describing its hopelessness while it sinks into the swamp and while Atreyu begs it to try and move on... It's absolutely devestating.

[@yara5502]

A quick google search answered 2 of your points. 1. Contrary to a rumor, the horse that played Artax did not really die during the filming of the Swamp of Sadness scene. Wolfgang Petersen confirmed that the horse survived. In fact, two identical horses were used for the scene, and they were professionally trained by a horse handler for months. While the scene was filmed, the crew would alternate between the two of them. Both horses remained unscathed. Petersen also expressed full understanding in the shocked reaction of the audience, and he also said that the sadness of the scene was necessary for the story and the character. 2. Noah Hathaway was hurt twice during the making of the movie. While learning to ride a horse, his horse threw him off, then stepped on him. While shooting the drowning sequence in the "swamp of sadness," his leg got caught on the elevator and he was pulled under water. He was unconscious by the time he was brought to the surface. He almost lost an eye during the fight-scene versus Gmork. One of the claws on his giant paws poked him in the face. The robot was also so heavy that he lost his breath as well when he was hit to the ground by it. They only made one shot due to the risk that he would get seriously wounded.

[@pencilsandstories]

I grew up reading the book, only saw the movie when I was in my 20’s. (Still can’t get used to Falkor’s look, lol) My copy of the book had red and blue text for Fantasia and for Bastian and how the story slowly weaves the two together is really good. (The circumstances of Bastian coming to Fantasia are different than the film) I really recommend reading the book, as this movie only shows you the first half of the story. It’s a wild and intense story and really interesting. My favourite Michael Ende book is Momo, though.

[@PillowHairBlog]

I forgot about the red and blue print. Thank you for reminding me, that was the hard back. My current owned copy just has black print.

[@laurah1343]

I was going to mention the different color text as well. I read it when I was 19 and loved it

[@darrenbent7601]

I've only read the black and white version, with italic style as one of the colours, but I still prefer the written versions to the movie.

[@sarahvetoe8134]

I have a cat that minus the back scales looks just like Falcor.

[@joeypotter6051]

Mine is green and purple. Bastian was pretty unlikeable in the book though from what I recall.

[@lillyvanpug]

What a great reaction, guys 🫶🏻 I'm 43 now, and I still ball my eyes out every time Atreyu loses Artax 😫 This movie has been one of my fondest childhood memories along with The Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Such beautiful stories

[@kikibigbangfan3540]

The kid from the beginning of this movie ( Bastian) was in another classic from my childhood. Movie is called D.A.R.Y.L., he is a kid ( who doesn't know who he is or how to really be a kid) fostered/ adopted by an unsuspecting couple. Who are in shock to find out who this mystery kid really is in the end of the movie. It's a must watch imo.

[@texashookem22]

Neverending Story, D.A.R.Y.L., and Cloak & Dagger…these were absolutely my 3 favorite movies as a child!

[@MaikKellerhals]

When i first saw this as a child and when the Empress said that there are others watching the boy who reads the book, I think that moment changed me forever.

[@introverted_unicorn]

Apparently the horse scene is supposed to represent depression. Watching this as a child, there was absolutely no way to understand that but, as an adult I get it. Still makes me tear up seeing the horse sink as he's begged to move on. ❤

[@ValentinasWatching]

This movie is particularly special for me. Tomorrow is the anniversary of my mom passing - 2 years. She was the one who showed me this movie several years after it came out in theaters on VHS. I remember she was teaching a particular group of students of hers about certain themes in this movie and she invited me along to watch and told me I HAD to see this movie. Not only the visuals and the characters impressed me, but all the meanings throughout the hero's journey were branded into my soul. It's so beautiful from start to finish and I was so moved by it that I decided to read the 📖. I STILL own the book to this day and I've passed it on to my kids. I even bought an auryn necklace. Artax in the swamp of sadness and Bastian talking about his mom's name still gets me teary eyed. So glad you guys watched this!

[@tinyderppotato5410]

💖

[@wordstowordlessthings]

two things: one, atreyu didn't succumb to the swamp because he had the auryn. two, the book explains that he couldn't bring weapons because he was an ambassador for the childlike empress and she had kind of a god-type relationship with all beings, beautiful, ugly, everything in between, so she ruled not with power but by valuing everyone equally.

[@robertcherman]

As a person that lost his dad at a young age, in the late 80s early 90s, grownups talked to me just like his father. So, to me that shows realism. This story is very deep when you really look at, it's The Neverending Story. When my dad died, I felt a nothing inside me, it felt like something disappeared, it felt empty, like something was missing. The emotions in the book comes from Bastion. The nothing is where the book starts, and my guess that is the nothing he felt inside. When Atreyu and Artex were hungry it was because Bastion was hungry. Bastion is really writing the story. When you write a book all your wishes can come true, and the more you write, the more wishes get to come true, so that is why he has all the wishes he wants. Why does he have to give the Empress a new name. When ever you create a story, the first thing you have to do is come up with a character and give them a name. And from there, the book is empty, and you write all your wishes and dreams for the reader to read it. Which inspires them to write and put all their wishes and dreams into stories in books. So, it becomes never-ending.

[@Angelfish757]

Fun fact: Alan Oppenheimer who voiced Skeletor in He-Man and voiced many, many other cartoons etc... voiced Falkor, Rock-biter and G'mork and also was the narrator. I will love this movie forever I saw it aged 8 in '84 and it still gets me crying like a baby every time I watch it.

[@ShilohSmith]

This movie perfectly encapsulates the magic that you experience when reading a new and exciting story, when you find a book that really gets the imagination juices flowing.

[@marybrown6128]

I’m 58 years old and I still cry every time Artax dies in the swamp! 😢 That scene traumatized a generation and continues to break hearts today! Seeing him restored at the end saved me years of therapy 😂. And of course I still want a luck dragon!

[@Sabine00KH]

The film is based on a book from the German author Michael Ende. The film is a German/ American co-production and they filmed a lot of the film in Germany as well as other places in Europe Greetings from Europe :)

[@stevenricks1703]

The horse did not die during filming. Handlers worked with it for weeks to teach it not to be afraid while sinking.

[@pepsiccolausa8857]

The wolf scene is always what I remembered as a kid. Scared the heck out of me and the scene where he passes the two giant statues

[@jaidarylance6615]

Contrary to a rumor, the horse that played Artax did not really die during the filming of the Swamp of Sadness scene. Wolfgang Petersen confirmed that the horse survived. But yes there were two identical horses were used for the scene, and they were professionally trained by a horse handler for months

[@lifelikelisa]

The 80s had a very special way of creating these fantastical stories for children, something that CGI and today’s movies can’t touch!

[@lexygonzalez330]

In case anyone was worried, no horses died in the filming of the Neverending Story! But boy was that just a heart-wrenching scene, not to mention the Rockbiter having his new friends ripped right out of his hands! (that got me every time😭) Thank you for reacting, this was awesome!

[@Aldebaron-fp3ef]

Saw this on a video with my daughter when she was little and remembered how much I loved the theme song. Then a few years ago I revisited it and found out it was based on a book originally written in German by Michael Ende. So of course I had to read it. (In English translation). I think the movie did a super job of interpreting the story for a young audience. The book also adds more dimensions and meaning for older audiences as well. "The more wishes, the better" touches on one of the main themes. In the book, wishes and dreams are important to guide your life even though they may serve mainly to lead you to more dreams you could not have imagined until you followed your original dreams....

[@carolyncucinotta1990]

Yeah, it crushed me when I learned he hated the movie, wanted his name off of it,, tried to take them to court, etc. I still have the book and read it, but it's a little like finding out that your two closest friends hate each other.

[@kohakublubb]

​@@carolyncucinotta1990 Yeah, but I understand why he was disappointed - there are several elements that make the book so much deeper, like the swamps of sadness being a metaphor for the grief Bastian and his father feel after losing Bastians mom, and his father battling with actual depression... Not to mention that the movie only covers the first half of the book! There's just a LOT left out and the experience of reading the book is something else - in most editions or at least the original german one that I read, the book itself is written in two different colours, and it gives you the same experience Bastian has, of actually being a part of the story... If people like the movie I cannot recommend the book enough. I still like the movie, it was a big part of my childhood even when some of the Americanizations threw me off as a kid haha

[@carolyncucinotta1990]

@@kohakublubb Oh I definitely agree. It was just sad to hear it. And of course, 99.9% of the time, READ THE BOOK! 😁

[@shotgunbettygaming]

Let me allay your fears Oak, the horse playing Artax did NOT die during or as a result of shooting the scene in the Swamp of Sadness. In fact one of the 2 horses used for the film was gifted to the young actor playing Atreyu and lived her life out on a farm in Germany. As for an egg in OJ, it used to be the traditional Orange Julius recipe. OJ, milk and a raw egg blended into frothy goodness and poured over shaved ice...nothing like it in the world! Years and years ago due to a round of salmonella in the country (not just Orange Julius), raw eggs were taken out of the recipe for health concerns in serving the public for liability reasons. I still do it at home sometimes, though people can run the risk of still having salmonella introduced it would be ideal to know where your eggs are actually coming from. Meet a chicken farmer today! Yeah, SUCH a wholesome film. So wholesome, it makes my heart ache for kids nowadays. I've seen this movie SO many times, as a kid I used to keep a tally sheet of how many. By the time I was 20 and a mother to my own son, I had seen it over 200 times. As a massive lover of books, fantasy and imagination and Hope this movie was very fulfilling growing up! Absolutely loved the reaction. Though I will say this....don't get your hopes up should you choose to venture into Neverending Story 2. The magic isn't there sadly.

[@ChibiHoshiDragon]

The current recipe still uses eggs. Just the safer Egg white POWDER

[@shotgunbettygaming]

@@ChibiHoshiDragon LOVE THIS!!!

[@P-M-869]

I used to go into deep depressions. The best way I found to describe it was the "Nothingness" from this movie. I felt like I had no feelings.

[@bea3ce687]

"When you look into it, it's like being blind".

[@PanzerShrek94]

I just love how The Oak is always so invested in these kinds of movies with a focusing stare.

[@carinam.9447]

I didn't watch the movie as a child but I read the book (I think my sister still has it, I should read it again). The author Michael Ende wrote a lot of classics of our German children's literature, Momo is also great! Lots of big themes in his books.

[@PPfilmemacher]

If i remember right The Momo book is also a direkt sequel of the never ending story with her a orphan her as the main character Being a orphan who has no one and got sucked in go another dimension or world where the grey being als a direkt metaphor for corporate worker exploration

[@kohakublubb]

​@@PPfilmemacher Nah, Momo has nothing to do with the Never ending story, and she's not being brought into another dimension. The "Grey Men" are manifestations of similar themes though, about people just getting caught in the mundane, capitalistic workaholic world without imagination. They literally smoke cigars made out of time that they stole from people.

[@DavidStruveDesigns]

The fact they had a 4th wall break, _inside_ of a 4th wall break just blew my mind when I was a kid watching this for the first time. I didn't even know what a 4th wall break even _was_ at that time, let alone that you could do it in multiple layers. But still the idea that a book inside of a movie would be aware that someone was watching the movie and therefore the story in the book unfolding just opened my eyes to _so_ many possibilities for my own stories I was creating in my head. And I think it helped influence the types of short stories I later wrote down as well as the types of stories I enjoy reading. Honestly, apart from the Wolf scaring the pants off me (and still kinda does if I'm honest, which is tough to admit as a 39 year old lol) I have _so_ much love and adoration for this movie. I'm with Oak that even the theme song immediately warms my heart, makes me smile and brings back memories I had thought were long-since forgotten and lost.

[@williamdrake6711]

From an interview: PETERSEN: The horse did not really die, despite what has been said throughout the years. First of all, we had two identical white horses that played Artax. They were so beautiful. They were trained for a long, long time by a professional horse handler with this almost impossible task for a horse to, without resistance, sink slowly down in the mud all the way up to their head. It did not go over their head, no horse would ever do that. It took months to train them. I'm always asked about this and the rumors aren't true. In the film, you never see the horse's face go into the mud. And also, by having two horses, we would alternate which would be in the scene while the other relaxed. It's really meant to be a sad scene; this was a crucial part of the film. People always tell me that when that scene comes on, they have to close their eyes. I tell them that I understand, it's very sad and difficult to watch but it was crucial for the story. It's all about being drawn into the darkness, and, unfortunately, the horse doesn't make it [in the movie]. And because of that, even more so, Atreyu has to do it by himself without his friend and he does. But yes, the horses were really good, and both were fine. HATHAWAY: I feel like I sent people to therapy over that scene with Artax. The horse they used was really wonderful and they spent a couple of months teaching her to be ok with being up to her neck with water. That's something unfamiliar for them. So, the way they did that scene was that they had this little elevator under the water that slowly dropped the horse lower and lower. When it got to its chin area, we'd cut the scene. That one scene took over two and a half weeks. The real horse never really died. They were more careful with that horse than they were with me! I got hurt a hell of a lot more. The horse was definitely looked after well. I broke my back working on the movie and was in the hospital in traction for like a month before we started filming. We had a horse that we were training to fall on me while we were working with the horses maybe a couple of weeks before shooting. After I broke my back, we didn't know if I'd be able to continue but I ended up healing up enough to be able to work. It was scary for a little while; I had a couple of injuries on this movie. I did a lot of my own stunts; it was just a very physical movie. But how many kids that are 12 or 13 can even say they experienced something like that? They gave me one of the horses and a saddle as a wrap gift. But I was going to have to have it shipped and sterilized and all this stuff, so I left the horse in Germany with my riding double. He had the horse for 20-something years. He sent me an email like 10 years ago letting me know that the horse had just passed. It had a great and wonderful life. They had a stable and a ranch in Germany

[@leeloo4182]

This and Labyrinth were two of my favourites and still are ,watched them many times over. Also in case you missed it Bastians mums name was Moonchild .

[@aerie1962]

Thank you. I never could understand what he yelled. What a "60s" name.

[@jenniferri7735]

this was my FAVORITE childhood film. my mom rented it for me every weekend for a good six months - this was back when VHS tapes cost like $100 or more for a regular person to buy - and i would watch it at least 3 or 4 times. ARRRTAAAXXXXX!!! 😭😭😭 edit: i wrote this comment before watching - PRETTY SURE OAK IS MY SOULMATE

[@Tolkienlady]

My boyfriend and I took my little six year old cousin to see this movie. When it was over, my bf and I stood up but my cousin just still sat and stared at the screen. We thought he was sitting and listening to the closing song so we sat back down and waited. When it finished, we stood up again but he didn't. He was still staring at the screen. We were the only ones left in the theater. I reached down and touched his shoulder, "You ready to go, yet?" He slowly turned his head and looked up at me and said, "THAT. WAS. THE. BEST. MOVIE. I'VE. EVER. SEEN. IN THE WHOLE OF MY LIFE! EVER!" 😂 Epic comment from a six year old. He grew up to be an amazing cartoon artist.

[@StardustandMadness]

It must have been so great to share a favourite movie with two of your friends who had never seen it. I’d love to see this movie again for the first time. This, Labyrinth, The Monster Squad and The Princess Bride. Also, according to IMDB, the horse that played Artax did not die during filming, it’s just a myth.

[@GuriStargin]

Antrax is still the most traumatizing death to me, the whole situation of "the more sad and hopeless you are the more you will sink" was so eerie, how do you stop feeling like that when you are about to die horribly? But Atreyu still managed to keep going even after that, so that somehow got my little brain running and discovering more posibilities to desperate situations. Edit- I believe the real horse didn't die, I tried googling it and it shows a bunch of articles saying there was a rumour it did but it wasn't true.

[@sphhyn]

I watched the movie as a child and also read the book. The book was so unique. It was written in green and red letters if I remember correctly. Each different color telling the story in Fantasia and the real world. The author wrote many other very special books that became famous in Germany. I also vividly remember the story of Momo , the child that returned stolen time from time thieves. It was so weird and scary but also fascinating.

[@dinodasbunce6224]

I looked this up. Contrary to a rumor, the horse that played Artax did not really die during the filming of the Swamp of Sadness scene. Wolfgang Petersen confirmed that the horse survived. In fact, two identical horses were used for the scene, and they were professionally trained by a horse handler for months. The "NeverEnding Story" was co-written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen

[@wheredowegofromhere86]

Did no one notice that the “Wench” is Raziel from Willow?! This movie has so much depth to it, grief depression trauma and hope love friendship and the message to believe in yourself no matter what, all this and more just makes this film unlike any other when I was a kid. Plus breaking the fourth wall the way it did is pretty great. I cry harder now when I watch this. 😢 I wasn’t a Labyrinth kid, that was in college on shrooms and I was like WTF lol This and the Land Before Time really took it out of me as a kid.

[@aggycarpenter]

The original book was printed in two colors - one for the ordinary world and one for Fantasia. The second half of the book was Bastian in Fantasia (after having given the Empress her new name).

[@JeffreyLong]

Yeah, the second movie was based off the second half of the book, if I remember correctly. The first movie only covers the first half of the book

[@RabbitShirak]

@@JeffreyLong I think it's based only loosely. Didn't Bastian become a tyrant of Fantasia or something? I've only heard about it, though my wife has the book.

[@XYZ-ll1kw]

@@RabbitShirak To a degree, yes. I highly recommend the book but if you are curious, spoilers ahead: I think tyrant oversteps it a bit but he does lose track of right and wrong actions because he gets swept away in his new fame as savior. He also does truly believe that he is doing the right thing throughout. It's the first time that people respect him and look up to him. At the same time, it takes quite long before he realizes that for every wish that Auryn grants him, he loses a memory from his life in the human world. He does learn his lessons and returns to the human world normal and happy, bringing happiness to his father in the process as well. The father in the books btw isn't hard on Bastian at all. Rather, he is "just" incredibly sad himself, sinking into a depression and becoming silent and somewhat distant. He isn't angry or strict, like in the movie.

[@maddybordner8122]

I love this movie so much, it’s exactly what it feels like to read when you’re young. I don’t think my imagination would be like it is today with out movies like this, the Labyrinth, and The Pagemaster

[@fangirlalliecat]

YUP! Those two were my absolute FAVES as a kid! I hope they react to both!

[@RPGgems]

This is my favourite childhood movie. The music and the atmosphere make it extra special. And the emotional scars from the swamp of sadness, of course! So happy to see you react to it.

[@Madayar]

Very many children have ridden on Fulchur's back! I was one of them - they made this in the Bavaria Film Studios which I visited as a school child. You could ride on Fulchur. Everybody did. Many models are small, some are life-size. Fun fact: This is more or less half of the book "The Neverending Story", the first half. I had a copy that was hardcover and wrote the real world and Fantasia in two different colours. I lost it in one of my many moves - so I sourced it used again and held on to it harder, so I have it to this day. Artax as a symbol of losing a friend to depression is the most heartbreaking scene. Atreyu is protected by Auryn from the swamps of sadness, Artax isn't. In the book, he talks. Just destroys a young heart, I tell you. The rock biter that moans his strong hands not being strong enough just breaks my heart to this day, as well. Gmork is pure horror, I feared him from the first minute and never truly lost that fear. Read the book. It took Michael Ende forever to write it - he was stuck in the middle, couldn't find a reason for Bastian to come back to the real world. It's one of, if not THE biggest GERMAN fantasy novel of all times. Also, there is an Italian movie, "Momo", based on another book by Michael Ende, which is magical, as well.

[@nobinary2296]

Every once and a while when I am down I watch this movie or listen to the song. It is my comfort movie. The oddest part is I tear up at the ending. Where the Empress looks into the camera and begs for Bastion's help. It feels like someone is directly asking me why I don't do what I dream.

[@psychokitty9325]

That scene with the empress always gets me too!

[@Deathbird_Mitch]

You are involved. Tgat is the point. "As he is following your story, others are following his."

[@jasonwalters7507]

Guys, I got sooo excited when i saw this pop up! This movie, along with The Princess Bride and Labyrinth, are my all-time favorite childhood movies. I was right there with Oak when he motioned to wait for the Bastian/Falkor scene. This was such a great reaction, you guys need to do Labyrinth soon!

[@Pengalen]

I love The Oak. He has the spirit of childlike wonder.

[@LadyT411]

I still weep when Artax sinks. And I always scream along: “CALL MY NAME!” My college boyfriend told me if we had a kid together, we should name him Atreyu Bastian. The answer was no.

[@ItsAsparageese]

"People without hopes are easy to control." Powerful stuff right there. ATLA does a good job of touching on this theme as well.

[@brandyanderson3522]

The movie stuck with me enough. That when I got my shaggy, white puppy, the name Falkor jumped up from the depths of my childhood memories. So when I got my black dog, he became G'mork

[@lissybearx3]

Thanks for watching and reviewing ‘The Neverending Story’!! I loved this movie when I first saw it as a kid and I still love it to this day!!!

[@tokyorose530]

The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz were my favorites to watch growing up. Heck I still watch them to this day, just that I'm not scared at some parts of the movies that scared me as a child😂🤣. The theme song is still my favorite alongside David Bowie's Magic Dance in Labyrinth. Can't wait to see Mason's reaction to it.

[@amberaegard]

The empress’s makeup is so pretty. I always wanted to do mine like hers when I was growing up

[@Akihito007]

This movie, Goonies, Explorers, Lady in White and other child focused movies were GREAT during the 1980's. So glad I was a kid during that time!

[@kulamars]

This movie marked my childhood and was one of the exponents in the way I see the world. In truth, half of the film had tears in my eyes, it had been a long time since I had seen "The Neverending Story" Thank you very much for reacting and for bringing back such beautiful memories!

[@Buffy8Fan]

I felt like Oak watching them watch this. Tears in my eyes as they reacted.

[@TK-Titanium]

This was my favorite movie when I was young. That fourth wall break blew my mind, at that age.

[@meganlynn83]

Therapist: "Where do you think your emotional problems started?" *Cue photo of Atreyu trying to get Artax out of the Swamp of Sadness...* 😭😭😭

[@TheBenperri]

No matter how many times I see it... even at 46... I still cry. I am SURE there is some trauma in me from that scene when I was 7!

[@MrCarlBackhausen]

Love how endeared Oak is the whole time watching this. As a 39 year old man I am right there with him. I was a young child when first watching this movie and it is something truly special to me. I recognize myself in Oak´s bewonderment. Love the fact that you are keeping the movies alive by watching them and showing how incredible they are here on KZbin. Hopefully the people that see this will go on and watch the movies themselves, maybe showing them to their friends and families. These movies are too good and wonderful to be forgoten by time.

[@SuperAlaska23]

It’s actually just a rumor about the horse dying. They used two different horses and alternated them while filming the scene. But the horse survived and was actually given to the actor who plays Atreyu, Noah Hathaway. However Noah Hathaway actually got hurt several times making this movie, once even falling unconscious from almost drowning.

[@elizabethbertucci9313]

I’m 53 and I still can’t watch the scene with Artax without crying 😭

[@rocksk8boi]

The actress Tami who played The Childlike Empress only did this one film. Noah Hathaway who played Atreyu was also Boxey in the original Battstar Gallactica. He was given the horse used for Artax after the shoot but couldn't take it back to the states. Noah still has the saddle though and the horse lived to old age. A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to ride on Falkor with both Tami and Noah. Both are incredible people and this film is just timeless and here we are still talking about it 40 years later ❤

[@jadelamb7208]

This was one of my all time favourite movies as a kid but the scene where Artax dies in the swamp of sadness destroys me every time 😢

[@SaveMeMoon]

30:53 when The Oak nods to the camera about the reference being later in the film is so spot on! I was just thinking it at that very second!

[@memos5205]

4:04 = ORANGE JULIUS INGREDIENTS: 1 cup orange juice 1 cup water 2 eggs 3⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar 1 cup ice

[@ivanelugo]

*36:52** on the theaters* A random guy: Hey, she's talking about us! YEAH!!!!

[@bazanime]

The musical score for this movie is awesome, it caught my imagination as a kid.

[@LisaKokx]

I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid and my heart dropped when I saw those sphinxes. I had so many nightmares about having to run between them and their laser eyes. I completely forgot!

[@steviekc9057]

Random Factoid: Noah Hathaway, who plays Atreyu, went on to play the protaganist in the 1986 campy cult classic "Troll", and his character's name is Harry Potter.

[@WanderingRoe]

Gosh this brings back such memories! 😭 And I concur with other comments in that the Artax scene always stood out in a sad/disturbing way. Children’s movies used to be pretty bold.

[@marcia_elena]

I was 16 in 1984, watched this movie in the theater when it came out and it was a magical experience, I was truly transported. I went back and watched it on the big screen several times afterwards, and for years this was one of my most beloved movies. It's been a long time since then, and many of my tastes and opinions have changed, but this movie will always hold a special place in my heart. The book (which I read later) is very beautiful, btw, I highly recommend it.

[@astroworfcraig9164]

Back in the '70s, a quick protein boost consisted of Tang and an egg in a glass of crushed ice.

[@shannansmith2188]

I haven't seen this for 30 years, and I still cried.. thank you for bringing it back to my mind.. such a one of a kind story..

[@jessicacastoldi3814]

Labyrinth hands down one of my top faves from the 80s… classic with David Bowie!

[@davidg4748]

As a kid this movie made me cry, scared, anxious, depressed, and happy within an hour and a half, any movie that can do that is incredible in my book

[@hidoradaikaiju4205]

I love that Oak has just gone full bore with the Wizarding World. He from “These are just kids movies” to drawing the Deathly Hallows in the top corner of his score board every episode and now he has a HP glass. I love it and I love your guys’ reactions and perspectives. I’m 34, so this movie was part of my childhood and it’s also one those movies (Dark Crystal and Labyrinth being two others) that I would keep watching even though they low-key scared me at times. God, I wish we still had movies like this and I can’t wait to show these to my kids.

[@sivonni]

This movie was my childhood favorite. Close behind it was Labyrinth, Flight of the Navigator, The Princess Bride, and Cloak and Dagger. Those movies shaped how I viewed stories. I spent a lot of my childhood reading but my mother would make us go outside, so the rest of my childhood was spent in backyards and parks, usually up in a tree, dreaming up my own worlds that my siblings would help me enact. It was an awesome childhood. The swamp scene was the first time I remember crying over a movie and made me afraid of swamps (and ponds) for a long time. I love this movie and the book it's based on so much that my niece sewed me my very own Falkor from a pattern she found online. It's one of my most prized possessions.

[@kingscorpion7346]

Noah Hathaway was 12/13 years old when they filmed this. he's now in his early 50's, and in interviews in comic-cons to this day he talks about how Wolfgang Peterson tried to kill him every week during filming, starting even before they began filming he was learning to ride horses. he fell off one and broke his back! and in the Swamps of Sadness, when Falkor rescued him, you actually see him passing out from all the CO2 used to make the fog! divers had to jump in and save him.

[@isaackellogg3493]

His foot caught on the elevator lowering the horse and he got sucked under the mud.

[@kingscorpion7346]

@@isaackellogg3493 and he actually passed out from all the CO2 used to make the fog. divers had to jump in to save him.

[@kimmycook2698]

I saw this in the theaters...I still cry when I think of the swamp of sorrow. And the Rock guy saying, 'They look like big strong hands don't they...' cry every time

[@captainsplifford]

When Rockbiter says, "They look like big, good, strong hands, don't they?," my heart just breaks every time.

[@YodaMan.]

this movie was my childhood. ive seen it way too many times. for those wondering the name Bastion gave the Empress is Moonchild. that was his mothers name.

[@alyssatheexcellent]

Seeing Mason Quinn absolutely loving his first time watching this makes me kinda feel like I’m watching it for the first time again, too. 🖤🖤 thanks boys!

[@isaackellogg3493]

The snail rider is dressed like Willy Wonka. He is played by Deep Roy, who twenty-one years later would go on to play every Oompa-Loompa in the Tim Burton-Jonny Depp Willy Wonka movie.

[@angeladonohue4592]

I'm surprised no one is saying anything about this. The little man with the racing snail is Deep Roy from TimBurtins 2005 Charlie and the ChocolateFactory. And the German actor who plays the Nighthob deserves our condolence R.I.P. As for Falkor the Luck Dragon, He is a AsianDragon hence the absence the wings and doglike head.

[@17thknight]

Man this movie really grew me up as a kid. "They look.... like good, strong hands.... don't they?

[@griesi31]

THE movie for every bookworm out there ❤ I am pretty proud as a german that a lot of this beautiful movie was done in Germany and the book it is based on was written by Michael Ende. A great lesson that fantasy and imagination and having dreams never is waisted time. And btw, for me the Dragon will always be FUCHUR (the german Name) 😊😊

[@Valeria-hy1ey]

Ughh, such good childhood memories back to when I read the book the first time. The two-color font was magical. And the story delivers such a great message. Never loose your inner child and fantasy.

[@kylejde]

I love that the Oak says " there are some scenes they might not be ready for" and he winks at us......and every one of us can only think.....Oh the Artax scene.....

[@kylejde]

pbs.twimg.com/media/EDiiWelXoAAGy3I?format=jpg&name=small

[@stinkingyeti]

The wonderful thing about this reaction, is that it's part of the Neverending Story, we're watching you watch the movie of the kid reading the book of the story.

[@LadyVenomWay]

The ending always makes me cry, CALL MY NAME, BASTIAN PLEASE, SAVE US!!! MOOOOOONCHILD!!! Loved watchin this as a kid, such a good movie!

[@malagastehlaate230]

I graduated High School in '84... but I loved this movie... it spoke to me. Fantasia... it is whatever you dream it is. Imagine that... But years later... I did buy it on VHS for my kids... they liked it.